What can we conclude from Rams shocking trade of 2023 captain Ben Skowronek?
By Bret Stuter
![Los Angeles Rams Offseason, Les Snead Los Angeles Rams Offseason, Les Snead](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4960,h_2790,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/54/01hxm133hn5xa4gbnt2g.jpg)
III: Look for the other shoe to drop
Whenever the Rams seize the day and maneuver to acquire or trade a player who has a unique and/or productive role on the team, you have to wonder: What's next? The Rams are not so much of a reactionary team, but a strategically driven football organization that has pre-planned many of the decision trees that may confront the team this season. I assert that the trade of WR Ben Skowronek to the Houston Texans was not a one-off move at all.
Rather it is one part of a menu to enhance the team in 2024.
So now we must all wait until the other shoe drops. Whether that means an NFL veteran free agent will be joining the ranks, or the team is eying up an unsigned college free agent. Perhaps the team is monitoring the NFL Waiver Wire? However the front office plans to backfill the now vacated roster spot, you can expect the team to address that opening sooner rather than later.
Let's not scoff at the contributions made by Ben Skowronek over the course of time that he played for the Rams. With only one football, one receiver gets the spotlight on any given play. All other Rams players on the football field are either throwing the football, blocking, or running a decoy route to open the primary target on the play. Skowronek was a superb blocker who was willing to line up anywhere, fill any role, and do whatever the coaching staff asked of him.
It will not be an easy task to find a player like that in the NFL. If you recall, after blocking tight end left the team via free agency, the front office tried to find his successor, but has yet to add a true Johnny Mundt to this team.